Air impeller means for unitary suction and blowing traveling cleaners



Nov. 5, 1968 R. BLACK, JR 3,403,682

AIR IMPELLER MEANS FOR UNITARY SUCTION AND BLOWING TRAVELING CLEANERS Filed 001'. 14, 1966 W 2| so 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: ROBERT L. BLACK, J12.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 5, 1968 R. BLACK, JR

AIR IMPELLER MEANS FOR UNITARY SUCTION AND BLOWING TRAVELING CLEANERS Filed Oct. 14, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: ROBERT L. BLACK, J12.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Filed Oct. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 586,694 8 Claims. 01. 15-312 This invention relates to overhead mounted traveling pneumatic cleaners for the disposition of lint, dust and other fiber waste in textile plants, and more especially, to an improved air impeller means for traveling cleaners of the type which combine, in a single unit, separate air systems for blowing fiber waste off of textile machines and for sucking fiber waste off of the floor supporting the machines.

During the past several years various arrangements of traveling pneumatic cleaners have been employed in textile plants for removing fiber waste from textile machines and adjacent areas by blowing air streams, and for removing fiber waste from the floor by suction. Among the most efficient and compact of such arrangements is the combined unitary blowing and suction traveling cleaner disclosed in my copending United States application Ser. No. 484,298, filed Sept 1, 1965, now Patent No. 3,304,- 571. The traveling cleaner of said copending application comprises superposed substantially non-air-communicating suction and blowing housings traveling on a track above a row or rows of textile machines. The suction housing is provided with one or more dependent suction tubes whose lower ends or suction nozzles travel closely adjacent the floor. The blowing housing has dependent blowing tubes provided with air outlets for directing blowing air streams toward various parts of the textile machines.

One of the most salient and novel features of the unitary traveling cleaner of said copending application resides in the fact that the suction and blowing housings are arranged in superposed non-air-communicating relationship, thereby permitting the use of air impellers of quite different air flow characteristics in the different housings. As set forth in my said copending application, the preferred requisites for cleaning by the use of blowing air are substantially and inherently difierent from the requisites or characteristics of cleaning by the use of suction air. For example, the blowing air should be kept clean and flow in a multiplicity of air streams of sufiicient areas and velocities to penetrate and clean various areas of the textile' machinery. On the other hand, floor cleaningrequires sustained strong suction at relatively few suction inlets, and less total air volume, to pick up lint and the like from the floor on each side of the machines and convey it to the collection chamber of the traveling cleaner.

Because of the problems of filtering lint from the suction air and removing it from the cleaner, I have found it most desirable to pass lint picked up by the suction nozzles through the impeller and collect and filter such lint on the discharge side of the suction fan. In such an arrangement the suction impeller should be designed to prevent clogging by the lint passing therethrough. The suction impeller disclosed in said copending application has such characteristics. However, in such application two separate impellers were mounted on a common shaft and were separated by a partition wall dividing the suction and blowing housings. While such arrangement has been very satisfactory, there has been a tendency for lint to acumulate between the suction impeller and the partition wall. The present invention eliminates this problem and results in other advantages and benefits.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide in a traveling cleaner of the type described, having superposed non-air-communicating blowing and suction systems, a duplex impeller having a common disk portion which serves as a partition separating the air housings, and carries on its respective upper and lower surfaces blades of the desired spacing and configuration to develop independent blowing and suction air currents.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the duplex impeller comprises a rotary partition or disk having a hub projecting from both sides thereof with the first and second sets of blades being substantially radially arranged on and preferably formed integrally with the partition. On the suction side, the inner ends of the blades of the first set are located in close proximity to or are integral with the hub so they will readily convey fiber waste while elfecting satisfactory air flow without clogging. The inner ends of the blades of the second set, on the blowing side, are spaced a substantial distance radially from the hub to minimize turbulence otherwise created adjacent the hub and thereby to improve the air impelling capabilities of the second set of blades. The different configuration and disposition of the second. set of blades is possible, because it is unnecessary that they be designed to accommodate and convey fiber waste.

The duplex impeller of this invention retains the advantages of the cleaner disposed in my said copending application while at the same time eliminating the problem of lint accumulating between the impellers. It simplifies the housing construction and utilizes a single component, resulting in a reduction of parts, and also facilitates installation and balancing.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a unitary blowing and suction traveling cleaner equipped with a preferred embodiment of the improved impeller means of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the improved impeller means removed from the traveling cleaner and showing its top or material-handling suction side;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view looking at the opposite side of the impeller means from that shown in FIG- URE 2, and showing its bottom or blower side; and

FIGURE 4 is an elevation, on a reduced scale, showing the traveling cleaner of FIGURE 1 mounted for travel along a track above a row of textile machines.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a combined unitary traveling cleaner of the type disclosed in said copending application is designated generally at 10 in FIG- URES 1 and 4. Cleaner 10 is adapted to travel along an overhead track T extending above a row or rows of textile machines M. The machine M of FIGURE 4 is shown in the form of a spinning frame and represents a row of any desired type of textile machines with which the traveling cleaner 10 may be used. Cleaner 10 includes a blowing cleaning housing 11 and a suction cleaning housing 12 arranged in superposed non-air-communicating relationship. The bottom wall of blowing housing 11 is provided with a substantially centrally located air inlet opening 13 (FIGURE 1), and opposite air outlet sides of housing 11 are provided with depending blowing tubes 14 movable along the aisles at opposite sides of the machine row M and having vertically spaced air outlets 15 through which air streams from blowing housing 11 are directed against surfaces of the textile machines being cleaned.

The lower wall of blowing housing 11 has an annular air inlet filter or screen 16 depending therefrom through which air is drawn in its course to air inlet opening 13 by the improved impeller means to be later described.

The lower portion of filter 16 is supported and closed by a plate 17 which encircles and is suitably secured to an electric motor 20, as described in detail in said copending application.

Motor 20 also may be considered as part of a carriage suitably supporting filter 16 and housings 11, 12 for travel along the overhead track T. Since the carriage and means for propelling the same along the track are fully disclosed in said copending application, a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The air inlet for suction housing 12 is formed by an air inlet chamber or manifold 21 suitably secured upon the upper wall of housing 12 and communicating with the interior of housing 12. Manifold 21 has a pair of dependent flexible suction tubes 22 connected thereto which extend into the aisles at opposite sides of the machine row M'and terminate in open nozzles 23 closely adjacent the floor F.

The flow of air into nozzles 23 forms suction zones or suction currents at the floor which draw lint and other light foreign material from adjacent areas of the floor F into suction tubes 22, through suction manifold 21 and into housing 12. The suction air is changed to blowing air streams in suction housing 12 and is exhausted therefrom through air outlets 24 into corresponding waste collection chambers 25. Collection chambers 25 include filter screens 26 which filter lint and the like from the air being exhausted from chambers 25 through screens 26. The lint is collected in chambers 25 for subsequent convenient disposal.

The air flows for both the blowing cleaning housing 11 and the suction cleaning housing 12 are provided by a single rotary impeller or fan 30. Impeller 30 includes an annular rotary partition or disc 31 positioned in a suitable opening in a plate means 32 defining the proximal walls of housings 11, 12. Thus, partition 31 separates suction and blowing housings 11, 12 into separate non-aircommunicating suction and blowing compartments. Partition 31 has a hub 35 fixed or keyed on the substantially vertical shaft 36 of electric motor 20. Hub 35 projects from both sides of partition 31.

A plurality of impeller suction blades 37 project upwardly from partition 31 into the suction compartment. As best shown in FIGURE 2, blades 37 extend substantially radially of hub 35 and at a back angle with respect to the direction of rotation of impeller 30. Since blades 37 must convey or impel fibrous material as well as produce the flow of air upwardly through tubes 22, through manifold 21, housing 12 and collection chambers 25, they are especially shaped and arranged to perform this function and their inner or proximal ends are connected to or located in close proximity to hub 35. This design has been found to significantly inhibit clogging of the impeller. The dimensions of blades 37 are determined in accordance with the volume and velocity of air streams required by the suction cleaning system.

Impeller 30 is provided on the opposite or lower surface of partition 31 with impeller blowing blades 40. A best shown in FIGURE 3, the inner or proximal ends of blades 40 terminate a substantial distance outwardly of hub 35 so as to produce a more eflicient air flow with respect to the blowing air than would be the case with respect to a material handling suction fan, it being well known that it is essentially the tip portions of air impeller blades which produce the air velocity. By spacing the inner portions of the blades 40 from hub 35, as shown, there is less turbulence of air affecting this area. Therefore, the air is not, in effect, held back by the inner portions of the blades 40 on the blowing side of the impeller 30. Thus, blades 40 are configured and arranged in blowing housing 11 of traveling pneumatic cleaner 10 with the sole design considerations being those which effect the most efficient production of blowing air currents of the desired volume and velocity characteristics.

Design determinations for each side of impeller 30 may be made independently of considerations relating to the other side, since the blowing and suction systems are separated by rotary partition 31. Thus, the blowing blades 40 are not limited in design by considerations applicable solely to the suction blades 37, and vice-versa. Optimum blade design for each of the separate sides of the impeller may be selected, considering only the design criteria relating to that side. 1

A circumferential seal 42 is preferably provided between the peripheral edge of partition 31 and the plate 32 of the blowing and suction housings 11, 12.

It is thus seen that I have provided, as part of a unitary blowing and suction traveling cleaner having non-communicating air systems, a duplex impeller which may be readily molded or formed from metal or suitable plastic material so that it is .of one-piece construction with oppositely disposed sets of impeller blades adapted to perform the respective dual functions of producing blowing air streams for cleaning textile machines therebeneath and suction air streams for sucking lint and other light material from the floor, and wherein the configuration of each set of impeller blades may be designed for its particular function without regard to the function to be performed by the other set of blades.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim: I

1. In a unitary suction and blowing traveling pneumatic cleaner adaptable for travel above and along rows of textile machines and comprising superposed blowing and suction housings, and tubes depending from the suction and blowing housings for applying respective suction and blowing air currents to surfaces to be cleaned;

rotary air impeller means for both of said housings cornprising a rotary partition separating said suction and blowing housings into separate, non-air-communicating suction and blowing compartments,

a first plurality of air impeller blades projecting from one side of said rotary partition and positioned within said suction compartment,

a second plurality of air impeller blades projecting from the opposite side of said rotary partition and positioned within said blowing compartment; and

means for unitarily rotating said partition and said first and second pluralities of blades for circulating independent air currents through the suction and blowing housings.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second plurality of impeller blades is arranged and configured for production of blowing air currents of first velocity and first volume flow, and said first plurality of impeller blades being arranged and configured for production of suction air currents of different velocity and different volume flow than said second plurality of blades.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said partition and said first and second pluralities of blades are of integral one-piece construction.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said travelingcleaner includes plate means defining proximal walls of said suction and blowing housings and having an opening therethrough, and said rotary partition being positioned in said opening for rotation therein relative to said plate means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, includingsealing means encircling the periphery of said rotary partition and arranged to substantially prevent air from leaking through said opening.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said first plurality of impeller blades being of different configuration than said second plurality of impeller blades.

impeller blades being of different configuration than said 10 partition at a back angle with respect to the direction of rotation of said partition, the innner ends of said first blades being disposed in close proximity to said hub so as to efficiently produce suction air currents in said suction housing while conveying lint and the like therewith without substantial clogging of the impeller with lint.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,304,571 2/1967 Black 15-312 FOREIGN PATENTS 902,951 1/ 1954 Germany.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,408,682 November 5, 1968 Robert L. Black, Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 68, acumulate" should-read-- accumulate Column 5", line 10', 'being of different" configuration" than" should read'"*'-are' substantially radially arranged on Signed and sealed this 3rdday of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J R. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A UNITARY SUCTION AND BLOWING TRAVELING PNEUMATIC CLEANER ADAPTABLE FOR TRAVEL ABOVE AND ALONG ROWS OF TEXTILE MACHINES AND COMPRISING SUPERPOSED BLOWING AND SUCTION HOUSINGS, AND TUBES DEPENDING FROM THE SUCTION AND BLOWING HOUSINGS FOR APPLYING RESPECTIVE SUCTION AND BLOWING AIR CURRENTS TO SURFACES TO BE CLEANED; ROTARY AIR IMPELLER MEANS FOR BOTH OF SAID HOUSINGS COMPRISING A ROTARY PARTITION SEPARATING SAID SUCTION AND BLOWING HOUSINGS INTO SEPARATE, NON-AIR-COMMUNICATING SUCTION AND BLOWING COMPARTMENTS, A FIRST PLURALITY OF AIR IMPELLER BLADES PROJECTING FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID ROTARY PARTITION AND POSITIONED WITHIN SAID SUCTION COMPARTMENT, A SECOND PLURALITY OF AIR IMPELLER BLADES PROJECTING FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID ROTARY PARTITION AND POSITIONED WITHIN SAID BLOWING COMPARTMENT; AND MEANS FOR UNITARILY ROTATING SAID PARTITION AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND PLURALITIES OF BLADES FOR CIRCULATING INDEPENDENT AIR CURRENTS THROUGH THE SUCTION AND BLOWING HOUSINGS. 